‘Why the empty shelves?’
‘I’m reorganising.’
‘No more processed food?’
‘Only fruit and vegetables.’
‘Meat?’
‘No.’
‘Chocolate?’
‘No.’
‘Sweets?’
‘No. There is no longer the demand for these things.’
‘The health drive?’
‘Tackling obesity.’
‘I see, uh, you wouldn’t happen to know where I could get my hands a few treats, do you?’
‘I can’t possibly imagine what you mean.’
‘Perhaps something left over you might have. Under the counter sort of thing.’
‘What do you take me for?’
‘An astute businessman.’
‘Well, this sort of thing would come at a very steep price.’
‘Of course.”
‘Let me check what I may have out the back.’

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
For this week only my two novels are available for just $1.50 (50% off) as part of the Smashwords ‘Read an eBook’ sale:
eBOOK: SMASHWORDS eBook: SMASHWORDS
Only $1.50 Only $1.50
Was $2.99 Was $2.99
Not so daft is he? Nicely done, Iain.
https://susan-a-eamestravelfictionandphotos.blogspot.com/2020/03/empathy-works-100-word-story.html
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Not at all, thanks Susan
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Blackmarket forbidden treats. Capitalism is infinitely creative
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It’s just a matter of finding that niche in the market
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Something sweet will always be in demand 😀 I liked this contribution. Nicely done.
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There would definitely be a lucrative market for the good stuff 😉
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When there’s a buck to be made…
Nicely done, Iain
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There is always a way
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Dear Iain,
The world does seem obsessed with so-called healthy foods, doesn’t it? I wonder if this could possibly happen. Stranger things have. Something tells me a sugar ban would be tougher to enforce than tobacco. Hm…bootleg sweets. Fires the imagination. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. There is a new sugar tax on fizzy juice and sweets in the UK, which they were looking to widen out into other products too. The trouble is, of course, this hits the poorest people most, so less treats for them. And those who can enjoy a moderate treat have to pay more for it too. I’m not sure a ban could ever be viable, but as you say, stranger things have happened!
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Well, money does make the world go round….Nice one.
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Thank you
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The black market is always thriving, it seems. Money usually wins.
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Someone is always making money, it’s a universal truth.
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Who dares wins … the chocky. Nice one.
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You have to seize the opportunity. Thanks Anthony.
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Of course! That’s a smart businessman!
Making the most by creating artificial scarcity.
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That’s capitalism!
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Good take on the Prompt
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Thank you
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Did it come in a brown paper bag? 😉
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Don’t know what you’re talking about 😉
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Can you imagine if shops stopped selling chocolate? My life wouldn’t feel like it was worth living 🙊
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Me either. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to this!
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Always a price for everything eh? Good stuff Iain.
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You just need to know who to ask.
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Who said money doesn’t talk?
Randy
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Money always talks as far as I can tell. Thanks Randy
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Yep. That’s EXACTLY how it’ll go down …
(and i have my own ‘stash’ …because, yeah).
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I’ll have to learn how to make my own chocolate…
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Oh, yeah … you might … 😉
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So will I! 😀
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(Sorry posted in the wrong place.)
I will also have to learn to make my own chocolate! 😀
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You can see the writing on the wall. Good story and dialogue, Iain.
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Thank you
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You are welcome.
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The black market angle reminded me of a dads army character, I do now wonder about some antiseptic hand gel supplies
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I can definitely tell you I wasn’t thinking of Dad’s Army! But yes, we cannot get hand gel in any of the local shops or supermarkets around us.
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Prohibition will always spark the criminal element. I have a sudden urge to stock up on treats.
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Best to keep some stockpiled.
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I shudder to think of the day when I’ll have to buy my Mars Bars on the black market. Nice one!
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It’s when you start to feel guilty at the looks that come your way when you buy a chocolate and a fizzy juice…
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I enjoyed the read, giggled at the accuracy of what lengths we go too. Elaborate ideas of how to do this healthy living thing, apps to check calories, apps to let you know you walked. Weigh ins meetings measuring. When we all know we just have to re-label vegetables as treats. 😀
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Yep, it’s not complicated, but we like to make it so!
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Because food isn’t the issue, willpower is the issue. 😁
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I sincerely hope the world is not coming to this. I for one enjoy being chemically enhanced by the foods I eat and will feel quite put upon if I am forced to the black market for a twinkie now and then….
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Oh, twinkies, now you’re talking! 🙂
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I’m a great lover of sweets, and twinkies never fail….
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So believable! I almost used that title myself.
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Thanks Liz
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Great concept, Iain! Now I wonder what you’ve bought that’s frowned on; you’re dialogue was very fluent, almost as though you’d used it (teehee – only joking!)
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Well, we all have our secrets 😉
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great dialogue. as real as it can be. well done. 🙂
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Yep, that’s how it’s done. Lots of interesting things under the counter.
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Not just the chocolate treats 😉
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I think we’ve proved that the whole prohibition thing doesn’t work. Nicely done Iain!
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It doesn’t have a great track record of success. Thanks Russell
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Ah, the price of chocolate must be astronomical now that it has gone underground.
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More than gold!
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Good story Kelly. Some astute underhand dealing. You made it sound so real.
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Thank you Neel
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Love the direction that the dialogue takes, very amusing. Something highly recognisable about their collusion !
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Thank you 🙂
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Great take on the prompt. Love it, ‘chocolate’ my drug of choice, but you forgot the coffee! Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.
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Haha 🙂
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With everything going the way it is, we could easily find ourselves here…great take on the prompt!
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Thank you Cheryl
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When I read, there’s no longer any call for chocolate, I thought well that’s not very realistic, Iain, but of course the realism came at the end, we’ll never forego our chocolate. Nice tale.
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We would never allow it! Thanks Michael
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There are always supplies if you are willing to pay. Nice story, Iain
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Thank you
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My husband is on a sugar-ban at the moment (apart from one piece of cake a day). He’d appreciate this story. Not that I want to give him ideas! It could get expensive.
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He may start looking in unexpected places for his fix! 😉
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I am sure that there will be a place to get those banned carbs and proteins.
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The dark web for sure.
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Noooooo not the chocolate!
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Never the chocolate! 😉
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